September Reflections – Where did the time go?
As I sit down to write this post over Labor Day Weekend, the days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping slightly, and all of the sudden, we are getting ready for fall. Unfortunately, across the country, people are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, and Covid will not go away. Many of you were expecting to be heading back to the office over the next week, but now it looks like January for many.
As I think about the summer of 2021 and year-to-date 2021, time seems to be flying by. There has been plenty to distract us in good ways and bad. On the good side, many of us were able to take long-postponed vacations, see extended families and, in our case, see our daughter Stephanie and her husband Ethan have their long-awaited wedding.
Labor Day weekend is also the time for me to level set and make my plans for the fall. In many respects, for me, it has always been a second New Years’ eve. Full of new resolutions and the setting of new goals for the remainder of the year. This mindset probably comes from growing up in the Northeast, where school generally starts after labor day, and people are scrambling to take time off the last two weeks of August. I can tell you in the Philadelphia area if you were trying to connect with someone since mid-August, you would have had more luck if you had a place “down the shore.”
What progress have you made?
I have been carefully thinking about the fall and the things I will be doing personally and professionally over the next four months to end the year strong and start 2022 with momentum. How about you? As you look back at the first eight months of the year, have you set out to accomplish what you planned to do in 2021?
If not, why not? Were you distracted by something else? Have your plans been impacted by the continuing malaise brought on by the pandemic? Have you lost your passion? Maybe you are stuck and need to reframe your goals and objectives or redefine your WHY. As we take positive steps, we often underestimate the work that needs to be done, or other “priorities” get in the way.
Sometimes it just takes time. That is what happened to me in the first eight months of the year. I developed a plan in December/January, identified a group of accountability partners, and started working. It took a while to see some results, but my efforts began to pay off in May, and momentum has continued to build. There were a few things that I tried that have not worked out. The good news is that I learned from each of these experiences. I view these as investments in my education that I can use to make more informed decisions in the future.
Enough about me — What’s next for you?
As you think about where you are, where you want to be? What is next for you? But, more importantly, do you know where and how to get started? Have you explored all of your options? Do you have systems and processes in place to help you get started? Are you motivated? Do you have a thinking or accountability partner in the area to keep you going forward?
Yes, I know I am asking a lot of questions. That is because a good coach asks the right questions to get you thinking about how you are going to solve your biggest challenges or maximize your most significant opportunities. The role of the coach is to help you see and reach your potential. The motivation comes from within. How about it? Are you ready to do the work and bring your goals closer to reality?
Call to Action
I have had the opportunity to speak with a variety of people over the summer considering coaching. Some have committed to getting started right after Labor Day and have their first sessions scheduled. Welcome aboard. I am looking forward to getting started.
Others have said they will think about it and get back to me after Labor Day and discuss the next steps. I expect a few of them will, but I also expect that others will not. That is fine. My goal is to work with people who are committed and ready to do the work. For coaching to be effective, you need to be ready and committed to doing the work. So for those of you who are getting back to me, please reach out when you are ready.
The leaves will begin turning colors in the weeks ahead, and the end of the year will be just around the corner. So please give yourself some time to explore the questions above. Better yet, let’s schedule a time to explore them together.
You can reach me at alec@aronscoaching.com.
